Visual Strategies For Autism

South Korean group seeks autism instruction at UCR Extension

More than a dozen South Korean therapists are attending classes that are part of a UC Riverside Extension certification program to learn to better assist students with autism-related disorders.

The group includes professionals who operate centers and teach autistic and special education students using art, music and play therapies. Mary Ellen Gruendyke, of UCR Extension, said South Korean educators contacted the school last year, asking for autism instruction so they can learn skills and develop a similar certification program in their country.

It's the first time such arrangements have been made in UCR Extension's autism certification program, Gruendyke said. UCR Extension created special topics for the class.

"They are leaving a good impression on the students," said Kyong Hye Lee, who teaches special education at Daegu Cyber University in Daegu, South Korea. She also interpreted lessons for the group.

Lee said the group appreciated the instructors' energy and enthusiasm for improving educational opportunities for those with autism. The participants looked forward to returning to South Korea with better ways to help students.

Autism, a developmental disorder, occurs in 1 in 150 children; the cause is unknown and there is no cure. The disorder makes it hard to communicate, form relationships and otherwise function in society. Some people with autism develop obsessive interests or make repetitive movements such as rocking or flapping their arms. Others, with Asperger's disorder, have extensive vocabularies and sharp cognitive skills, but they have difficulties with social interaction.

Ruth Prystash, an autism specialist for the Riverside County Office of Education and former teacher of the year, is one of the group's instructors. She said she has forced her to rely on visual teaching techniques rather than language to make her points to the largely non-English-speaking class, much like she would to autistic students.

"They seem not to be familiar with (autistic instruction) at all," said Prystash, as the group made visual aids for their classes. "It was daunting because you don't know what to expect. You want to make sure they get what they need."

Lee has translated lessons and discussions, even though most participants read, comprehend and understand English.

The group's 10-day educational trip comes following the recent release of a six-year study to measure the rate of autism in one South Korean city. The research, lead by Yale University's Child Study Center, found that the rate of autism reported in Goyang, 2.6 percent, was more than twice the rate of that identified in the developed world, which is 1 percent.

Solving Behavior Problems in Autism (Visual Strategies Series ...

Linda Hodgdon’s book, SOLVING BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN AUTISM, works for anybody dealing with another human being. You don’t have to be a parent, teacher, or someone working with a special-needs person to see the value in Ms. Hodgdon’s approach. People act out for a reason. Linda suggests you look at the circumstances before, during, and after a behavior before trying to deal with it. If you understand the person’s motivation, concern, and expectations, you can better change, temper, or redirect the behavior. Added to this insight, Linda points out most special needs people’s strengths and weaknesses. Then she clearly and concretely describes techniques using visual tools to help them communicate more effectively. Since most special needs people are visual-spacial learners rather than auditory students, Linda shows how to make, use, and facilitate visual tools, so these people can better understand, and thus, behave in society. Ms. Hodgdon’s technique takes the use of visual tools beyond labeling, and she explains how to direct people’s communication with visuals, so that they can function as normally as possible in the everyday world. When they understand the concept, they can communicate it, but in order to comprehend the idea, they must see it. Thus, if they can see, they can understand, then they can act accordingly. Linda shows this concept with the logo, WHEN I SEE IT…THEN I UNDERSTAND. Bad behavior may not be intentional, but if people don’t understand what they hear or what others expect of them, their inappropriate actions may simply be a reaction rather than a controlled response. So logically, if you understand why people behave inappropriately, you can fix the problem not just react to it. SOLVING BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN AUTISM helps readers realize reason works better than reaction when dealing with human behavior especially with special needs people.

There are several books about behavior problems on the market, but this one deals specifically with the types of problems associated with autism. Besides explaining how to lessen these behavioral problems, this book teaches you to understand the root of the behavior which means you can apply your new found knowledge in endless ways.

This book is based a lot on using visual strategies to improve communication skills, understanding and self management. Their are clear and useful guidelines for everything like how to communicate “NO” and proper ways to express emotions.

Solving behavior problems in autism, improving communication with visual strategies

Visual Thinking Strategies for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders - The Language of Pictures

Visual strategies for improving communication, practical supports for school and home

Understanding Autism

Practical Solutions for Stabilizing Students With Classic Autism to Be Ready to Learn, Getting to Go!